The Korean Mothers' Brigade protested against the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in front of the Coupang headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd and issued an official statement. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

Amidst the ongoing controversies surrounding Coupang, including the Fair Trade Commission's review of business suspension, threats of class-action lawsuits, and political pressure, the situation is escalating, with the US administration even lodging a protest.

In response, the Korean Mothers' Brigade (Representative Joo Ok-soon) held a protest against the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in front of the Coupang headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd and issued an official statement.

In their statement, the Mothers' Brigade declared, "Observing the recent controversies surrounding Coupang, we, as consumers and mothers of South Korea, have judged that we can no longer remain silent and have come to this place today."

The Mothers' Brigade explained their reasons for supporting and cheering for Coupang, stating, "Coupang's dawn delivery is an essential service that has fundamentally changed our daily lives," and specifically noted, "It has been a lifeline for senior women, replacing heavy grocery shopping, and the only alternative for working mothers to save time and energy."

The Korean Mothers' Brigade protested against the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in front of the Coupang headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd and issued an official statement. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

They further condemned, "Excessive pressure and collective action, centered around the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, are threatening a valuable service. While the KCTU speaks of workers' rights, their methods are focused on pressuring companies and destabilizing the service itself, without considering the lives of consumers."

Moreover, they urged, "The KCTU must seriously reflect on how their claims and struggles affect the daily lives of millions of consumers," and called for "reasonable improvements through dialogue and established systems if there are any issues with Coupang."

Finally, the Mothers' Brigade requested, "The KCTU must not drag essential infrastructure into political struggles."

The following is the full statement from the Korean Mothers' Brigade. 

In Support of Coupang, The Official Stance of Korean Mothers on the KCTU's Irresponsible Pressure

Observing the recent controversies surrounding Coupang, we, as consumers and mothers of South Korea, have judged that we can no longer remain silent and have come to this place today.

We support and cheer for Coupang. The reason is simple. Coupang's dawn delivery is an essential service that has fundamentally changed our daily lives.

We set our alarms for 5 AM. To prepare breakfast for our children and start our families' day.

We check the (Coupang) cooler bag left at our doorstep. Dawn delivery has been a lifeline for senior women, replacing heavy grocery shopping, and the only alternative for working mothers to save time and energy.

However, now, movements that threaten this precious service are overtly occurring. This is the excessive pressure and collective action centered around the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

While the KCTU speaks of workers' rights, their methods are focused on pressuring companies and destabilizing the service itself, without considering the lives of consumers.

We ask: Where are the consumers in the KCTU's struggle? When dawn delivery is suspended or reduced, it is not the company or the union leaders who bear the full brunt of the damage, but the mothers raising children.

The KCTU must seriously reflect on how their claims and struggles affect the daily lives of millions of consumers. Workers' rights are also important. However, those rights cannot exist above consumers' right to choose and the public's right to daily life.

We state clearly: If there are issues with Coupang, they can be reasonably improved through dialogue and established systems.

However, demonizing companies as enemies and holding services hostage can never be justified. In particular, the KCTU must immediately cease actions that destabilize South Korea's logistics system and distribution competitiveness through political slogans and collective action.

Coupang is a company that has elevated South Korea's distribution and delivery culture. There is a clear reason why countless consumers have voluntarily chosen it.

We express our clear support, expecting Coupang to continue providing consumer-centric and reality-based services in the future.

And we demand of the KCTU: Do not turn a blind eye to the lives of consumers. Do not drag essential infrastructure into political struggles. Stop the attitude of trying to reign over the public. The mothers of South Korea will watch this situation until the end. We will continue to voice our opinions against any movements that threaten our daily lives.

We support Coupang. And we firmly oppose any misbehavior that does not stand on the side of consumers. Thank you.

December 23, 2025

Korean Mothers' Brigade